Organ donation sign up hits half a million

Published:16:30Thursday 04 August 2011

On the first day of Westfield Health British Transplant Games, The Public Health Agency (PHA) is delighted to announce that more people in Northern Ireland are joining the NHS Organ Donation Register; figures released today show that registration has reached an impressive 500,550.

With the Transplant Games in Belfast from today (Thursday 4 August), we hope that many more people will show their support and sign up to the Organ Donation Register. Although these new figures are exciting, the PHA is urging more people to join the Organ Donor Register. Almost 300 people in Northern Ireland are currently waiting for a transplant and not enough organs are available.

Health Minister Edwin Poots said: “This announcement is excellent news. It shows that more than half a million generous people in Northern Ireland are prepared to give the gift of life to others who desperately need a life-saving transplant.